#3. The Objects before the enemy:
“Dominion” and “Worship”.


We have seen from the teaching of Scripture that the great enemy, the prime antagonist, in the conflict of the ages, is Satan. We need not be disciples of Hegel to reach the conclusion that contraries are a very real part of any given thing. Though he stand all day in the market place, no man can be a “seller” unless another becomes a “buyer”. To eliminate the idea of “husband” and to think only of the idea of “wife” is to attempt an impossibility. The two ideas must always be present in order that either of them can be conceived of as existing. So, also, it is impossible for Satan to be an enemy, or an antagonist, without the existence of some other opposing being or power. When we read “There was war in heaven” we find that Michael and his angels are ranged against the Devil and his angels. At the actual revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, we see

“Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war” (Rev. xix. 11).

The Psalmist also saw this apocalypse in anticipation, for he said:--

“Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Most Mighty, with Thy glory and Thy majesty. And in Thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and Thy right hand shall teach Thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under Thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever” (Psa. xiv. 3-6).

Likewise the prophet Zechariah spoke of the same great advent:--

“Behold, thy King cometh unto thee . . . . . and He (LXX) will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem . . . . . and His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth” (Zech. ix. 9, 10).
“Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives” (Zech. xiv. 3, 4).

We will not multiply references. The reader can find allusions to battle and war, in association with God himself, throughout the Scriptures. The great title “The Lord of Hosts” is in itself a reference to warfare.

There is a second reason for quoting the passages cited above, for, besides teaching us that the Lord Himself is engaged in this great fight, they indicate something of its object. In later verses of the chapter in Revelation from which we have already quoted occur the words,

“Out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword . . . . . and He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. XIX. 15, 16).

The passage quoted above from Psa. xlv. includes the address to The Son, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever” (Psa. xlv. 6). Likewise Zech. ix. 10 declares “His dominion shall be from sea to sea”. The first thing said after the creation of Adam in the image and likeness of God is, “And let them have dominion” (Gen. i. 26). This is expanded in Psalm viii.:

“Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands: thou hast put all things under his feet” (Psa. viii. 6).

The words, “all things under his feet”, find their real fulfillment only in Christ.

In Heb. ii. 8, 9 we discover that the first great step to this glorious end was taken at the cross, where He Who was destined to universal dominion, is seen, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour. In Eph. i. 22, 23, as Head of the Church during the dispensation of the mystery, we find that the position of having “all things under His feet” is associated with His glorious ascension and session at the right hand of God.

Finally, when the goal is in sight, we find the expression “all things under his feet” associated with the destruction of death, the last enemy, when, at last, God shall be “all in all” (I Cor. xv. 24-28).

Satan, as prince of this world, has, and seeks to retain, dominion over the earth as the god of this age, but he further desires to extend that dominion to the hearts of men, and in such a manner as to have their worship. He would not only sit upon a throne; he would sit upon the throne of God. All idolatry can be traced back to that climax of attempted usurpation when our Lord was personally tempted in the wilderness by Satan, who dared to offer Him the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them if He would but “fall down and worship” him. This failed, as it could not but do, but in the book of the Revelation, though it be short-lived, we see at last Satan’s end achieved, for it is stated “And they worshipped the dragon” (Rev. xiii. 4).

From these scriptures we may gather some idea of the cause and purpose behind the conflict of the ages, and consequently realize that in that conflict there can be no neutral ground. Either we are “for” the Lord or “against” Him.

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(From The Berean Expositor, Volume 32, page 238).

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